Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-02-18
BERTIIINES CAPTIVES.

the cedars as it had been falling since
midday, fine, powdery snow that spread
upon the branches a frozen moss, upon
the frs coating of silver and upon the
roads and pathways an immense carpet,
soft and white. and which intensified the
stiffness of this sea of trees.
Before the door of a forester's hut a
young woman with her sleeves rolled up
to the elbows was cutting wood with an
AK upon stone. Tall, supple and strong,
she was true daughter of the forest and
the child and wife of a forester. Sud-
denly voice came from the interior of
the house:
1--WE are alone this evening. Berthine;
come in and make everything fast. There
may be Pr,lssians as well as wolves in the
forest tonight
The wood chopper responded with a re-
sounding stroke of the ak.
II have nearly finished, mother" she
said; "besides, there is no need of fear
yet; it is still daylight. Nevertheless,
she brought in her fagots and sticks of
wood, and piling them up in the chimney
corner went out again to close up the
shed; then re-entering the room she
pushed to the door and locked and bolted
it.
Her mother an old and wrinkled
woman whom age had made timid and
nervous, was seated by the fireside spin
ming.
Il do not like it, Berthine, said she;
"when your father is from home two
women are not strong"
''But l am not afraid" the girl re-
sponded; Il can defend myself from a
wolf or Prussian all the same" and
she glanced Significantly at huge re-
volver suspended above the chimney
piece.
Berthine's husband had been in the
army ever since the beginning of the
Prllssan invasion, and these two women
had remained alone with only the old
father, Nicholas Pichon, the gamel1eeper,
as he was called in the neighborhood,
who had obstinately refused to leave his
dwelling and seek protection in the city.
The city nearest the Pichon hut was
Rethel, quaint and ancient place perched
upon high rock. Filled with patriot
ism, the citizens had decided to resist in
vaders-to shut themselves up. and if nee
essary sustain a siege such as had taken
place in the time of their forefathers-for
twice already the inhabitants of Rethel,
in the days of Henry " and Louis XIV,
had rendered themselves thus illustrious.
Purchasing supply of cannon and guns,
equipping a militia and forming them
selves into battalions and companies, they
exercised daily on the Place d'Armes.
Bakers, grocers, butchers, notaries, law
yers, cabinet makers, librarians and even
druggists Unanswered in turn at the regu-
lation hour under the command of NJ.
Lavigne, an ex-officer of dragons, and
to-day, thanks to his having married
the daughter and heiress of the shop
keeper, Raredan, the richest and most in
fuential man in the city.
And thus they patiently waited the
Prussians, the Prussians who never came,
though twice they had been seen in the
forest, in the neighborhood of Pichon' s
hut who had run to warn the city.
This house of Nicholas Pichon's served
as q sort of advance post in the forest of
Aveline; and twice a week the old man
went into the city to purchase provisions
and to carry to the citizens the latest news
of the campaign.
His errand to Rethel to-day was to an
nounce that small detachment of Ger
man infantry had halted near his house
about 2 O'Clock that morning They did
not remain long nor did he know the di-
rection they had taken, but all the same,
as 5000 as they had gone again Pichon
called his dogs and started for the city,
instructing his wife and daughter to bolt
and barricade the house when night
should fall, and on no account to open
the door, no matter who might knock.
Berthine was afraid of nothing, but the
old woman trembled and constantly re-
peated: 1T will end badly-you will see
it will end badly, sure!' and tonight
she seemed more unquiet than usual.
"Knowest thou at what hour thy ia
Their will return?' she said to her daugh-
ter, presently,
''Not before II, certainly. When IA
Their dimes with the major commandant
(the title Lavigne had conferred upon
himself), he never returns till late and
Berthine hung the pot over the fire and
prepared to make the soup. All at once
she ceased to stir it; she was listening tC
an indistinct noise that came down the
fue of the chimney.
''Some one is walking in the wood, ;
she said; 'seven or eight people at least.
The old woman, frightened to death
stopped her wheel and began to whim
per.
''Mon Dieu Berthine!' she cried; ''anC
thy father is from home!'
But Berthine did not reply, for at TIN
moment there was a knock at the door
and cultural voice demanded admit
lance.
"Open or I'll preak tie toor, the sam
voice shouted a little later. Slipping tn
revolver into her pocket, the young VIC
man crossed the room and, placing he
mouth to the keyhole, shouted in return
''And who are your "a tetachmen
from tie uIder side!' "Well, what d
you wantt" Something's to eat; Ina
peen lost since morning in tie woods; ope
or I'll preak tie toor!"
Without waiting for him to put hi
threat into execution, she slipped tn
bolts; the door swung heavily upon. il
hinges, and she saw in the pale, snow
light of the forest group of soldier
standing uDOn the stan-tha Same i